ProfessorJulianne O'Reilly-Wapstra

Project Total: $784,639; Vertebrate pests are significant damage agents to Australian temperate hardwood plantations. Our project will test an entirely new approach to reduce this damage. We will test artificial plant odours designed and deployed as misinformation, so herbivores choose not to visit and/or fail to recognise vulnerable eucalypt seedlings as food. Our innovative approach works with the motivation of herbivores to forage efficiently, using odour information in their decisions while ignoring odour noise. We leverage our new published method and demonstrated proof-of-concept that we can define and use odour information to delay browsing of eucalypt seedlings. Short term benefits should be reduced browsing damage hence increased survival and growth of seedlings, plus early career researchers trained in innovative forestry science. Anticipated long-term benefits include a novel economically viable way to help protect plantation seedlings of any species from herbivores, leading to greater net economic output from plantation forestry. Funded by: Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) - Grant; University of Sydney; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $993,978; This project tests and identifies optimal operational methods for detecting and estimating wallaby population/density estimates. Aerial thermal imaging by drones will be compared with field-based surveillance cameras, shooter counts and scats. Results will inform forest managers whether to and when to implement controls on animal numbers, and what approach would best suit the circumstances. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited - Grant-Research and Development ($894,691); Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Ltd ($45,000); Timberlands Pacific Pty Ltd ($45,000); University of Tasmania ($10,653).

Project Total: $5,000; Browsing mammals, including deer are a serious problem for the forestry industry. Deer browse, bark-strip and antler rub trees causing decreased tree growth, reduced wood quality and tree death. Control has traditionally focused on shooting or fencing. Alternative more socially acceptable or economically viable methods are needed. Hence, we are seeking to establish the spatial/temporal movements of deer and spatial damage within a plantation to enable targeted management of deer using non-lethal methods. We are testing audio and/or visual playbacks of predators, sounds and lights to deter deer from plantations within Hancock Victorian Plantations (Ovens District, north east Victoria). All ethical requirements and veterinary competencies will be met. Funded by: Parks Victoria - Scholarship - The Research Partners Program ($5,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $24,586,664; This research centre will be one of three delivering forestry and forest products industry focussed research under the AFWI grant Funded by: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Grant ($24,586,664); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $101,540,000; Funded by: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ($101,539,999); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $7,780,007; Funded by: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ($7,780,007); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $54,405; Climate is a major agent of selection which defines and limits the distribution of species and shapes morphological variation amongst populations. However, climate change is causing unprecedented selective pressure, resulting in maladaptation and a reduction in population fitness. Already, rangewide dieback has been reported in many of Australia's unique flora species, including the iconic eucalypts. Eucalypts are a foundation species in Australian woodland and forest ecosystems, providing essential habitat and food resources for dependant plants and animals. Using the ash eucalypts (Eucalyptus regnans [mountain ash], E. delegatensis [alpine ash], E. obliqua [messymate stringybark]) as a model, this project will: identify the major historical climatic drives of adaptation to evaluate the capacity of eucalypts to tolerate future climates (Aim 1), and determine the extent of population susceptibility to water limitations to elucidate the limits of plasticity to future climate stress (Aim 2). Results will benefit the conservation of eucalypt gene pools, assess the need for assisted migration of vulnerable populations to favourable climate habitats, and inform strategies to build resilience in restored populations to maintain biodiverse ecosystems. Funded by: Australian Flora Foundation - Malcolm Reed (Large) Grant ($54,405); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $817,874; The University of Tasmania (UTas) is committed to supporting the forest industries through research as evidenced by the long history of successful, collaborative research with national and state-based forest industries partners and as articulated in the current University and College of Sciences and Engineering strategic documents. Close working relationships between PhD students and industry partners during a student's research candidature ensures projects are industry focused, students are trained to be industry ready, and outcomes and results are translated to partners during the course of the projects; creating an excellent shared-learning environment. This builds capacity in the sector and continues to ensure that the growth and productivity of the forest industries is based on proactive practices and finding innovative solutions to current and future challenges. Through on-going conversations between UTas and the Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Grower Research Advisory Committee (GRAC) since August 2020, a direct co-funding model to support a Forest Growers Research Program of six PhD scholarships, project costs and a technical salary has been developed. Funded by: Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited ($817,874); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $2,556,029; The University of Tasmania hosts one of eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs established across Australia under the Commonwealth's Future Drought Fund. Hubs are intended to be enduring institutions. The current proposal is about the Commonwealth's call to expand the Hubs' remit to service four priority areas under the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda. If funded, the Hub in Tasmania will need to operate under two agreements: the current agreement for the 'Drought Hub' and a new agreement that is about developing the Hub's pathway to expansion, while continuing to deliver to the 'Drought Hub' under the current agreement. This proposal presents the Hub's Statement of Claims on its ability and commitment to deliver practical activities and a business case that supports the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda Funded by: Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment - Agricultural Innovation Hubs Program ($2,499,999); Optimum Standard (Aus) Pty Ltd ($56,030); University of Tasmania ($100,000).

Project Total: $5,000; Student: Erin Bok My PhD project will investigate what drives variation in food availability and quality for one of Australia's most endangered birds, the forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). The Forty-spotted Pardalote is dependent on Eucalyptus viminalis (manna gum), for habitat and as critical food source. E. viminalis produces manna, a sugary exudate, that is fed on by adult pardalotes and contributes ~80% of nestling pardalote diet. The pardalote is the only bird species known to farm manna and shows preferences for specific stands and individual E. viminalis trees that relate directly to manna quality (sucrose:raffinose ratio). Specifically, pardalotes prefer E. viminalis with a higher sucrose to raffinose ratio. This suggests that variation in manna quality may be a crucial factor that mediates pardalote success and ultimately their distribution. Results from this study will inform pardalote breeding programs and ongoing conservations efforts and provide information to benefit the conservation of Australia's iconic birdlife. All animal ethical requirements will be met. Funded by: Tasmanian Land Conservancy - Bird Conservation Fund Scholarship ($5,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $488,593; We will develop and test autonomous surveillance, detection and deterrent mechanisms to assess deer use of heterogenous forested landscapes and develop new options to reduce the impacts of these pests. Funded by: National Institute of Forest Product Innovation - Grant ($488,593); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $2,200; Literature has provided evidence on the importance of co-operatives to overcome the barriers of agroforestry uptake. However, little is known about landowners behavioural foundations of decision-making for these kind of initiatives and resource pooling while being faced with uncertainties in the forests and wood products market. The focus of this research is to identify institutional arrangements and incentives that affect Tasmanian small landowners' decisions to engage in co-operative behaviours in agroforestry practices. Behavioural economics approaches and experimental techniques will be adopted to study the instruments and incentives which may improve the capacity of agroforestry adoption in Tasmania. The results would inform policy and incentives for co-operative agroforestry. Funded by: Private Forests Tasmania ($2,200); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $17,520; This project will investigate the factors that mediate variation in manna quality and quantity, specifically focussing on the extent to which variation in manna is underpinned by genetic or climatic factors. Funded by: Australian Flora Foundation - Grant-Research ($17,520); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $4,015,643; Food and wood products are areas of strategic growth for Tasmania and regional Australia, contributing $1.6 billion and $615 million, respectively, to the annual Tasmanian economy. A thriving and sustainable sector requires continued innovation to locally value-add and diversify products and markets. Innovation is underpinned by research strengths and a workforce sector connected to advances in technology and trained graduates. The University of Tasmania (UTas) is committed, through its strategic plan, to deliver impactful research to help Tasmania prosper, and to have influence nationally and globally. Through collaborations, this three-year project will increase research and development activity at UTas to support value-adding in niche food and wood products in regional areas. The delivery of the project will build cross-disciplinary, integrated collaborations at UTas, and together with long-term external partnerships and collaborations, will maximise the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches to delivering impactful research for the regions Funded by: Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Grant-Regional Research Collaboration ($4,005,643); Forico Pty Ltd ($10,000); University of Tasmania ($314,418).

Project Total: $16,037,500; Water is a major asset for Tasmania linked to livelihoods, energy production, irrigated and rainfed agriculture, environmental management and conservation. Competing demands for water intensify during droughts and as hot and dry years increase in number. Wise and fair water management requires a multi-stakeholder partnership to innovate for drought resilience, optimal water management and self-reliance. Our Hub will enable drought preparedness in Tasmania through collective and co-designed actions that sustain Tasmania's high-value, clean, green international brand. We will engage with local knowledge and land stewardship through a deliberate and negotiated process and uphold the rights of Tasmanian Aboriginal people to benefit from innovations they enable. The Hub, for the first time, brings together the major players - farmers, land and water managers, researchers, and indigenous knowledge owners - who, together can reduce the risks associated with drought in Tasmania. Funded by: Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment - Future Drought Fund ($16,384,300); The Northern Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Assoc Inc. ($513,000); Private Forests Tasmania ($50,000); The Derwent Catchment Project Inc ($50,000); East Coast Primary Producers Association ($3,000); Landcare Tasmania ($1,000); University of Tasmania ($1,324,683).

Project Total: $14,150; Student: Erin Bok Understanding the ecological and evolutionary interactions between flora and fauna is a major challenge that is fundamental for biodiversity conservation. My PhD project will directly address this challenge by investigating what drives variation in food availability and quality for one of Australia's most endangered birds, the forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). Funded by: Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - Grant ($14,150); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $30,000; Contribution to 50% of RA's salary (including on-costs) employed as part of the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value (R22974). Separate record created as funder not a collaborator to the Training Centre. Funded by: Sustainable Timber Tasmania ($30,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $5,000; This study will focus on constructing a set of criteria and indicators, using dollar values as a consistent metric, related to sustainable forest practices as a scoring system to rate current and future forestry projects. The True Cost Accounting (TCA) framework will be used to calculate the costs and benefits associated with forest management decisions of the Taswood Estate. Funded by: Timberlands Pacific Pty Ltd ($5,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $50,451; We hope to identify rhizosphere microorganisms in soil samples associated with growth promotion in plantation communities of Eucalyptus nitens and E. globulus, as a preliminary step in developing a microbial inoculant to be used to promote health and productivity of hardwood forest plantations. Funded by: Forico Pty Ltd ($50,451); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $5,000; My PhD project will investigate what drives variation in food availability and quality for one of Australia's most endangered birds, the forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). Results from this study will inform pardalote breeding programs and ongoing conservations efforts and provide information to benefit the conservation of Australia's iconic birdlife. Funded by: Birdlife Australia - Grant-Stuart Leslie Bird Research Award ($5,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $38,305; A collaborative project between Greening Australia and the University of Tasmania ARC Training Centre for Forest Value (RMDB: R0022974) Tasmania Island Ark is working to recreate 15,000 ha of habitat across the Tasmanian midlands to create a stronghold for our endangered wildlife and reconnect people and nature, while revitalising local farming communities. Funded by: JM Roberts Charitable Trust - Donation ($38,305); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $123,926; This project aims to disrupt the paradigm impeding the adoption of agroforestry systems. Despite well-known benefits of agroforestry, adoption has been low. Integrating trees into farming practice builds on-farm natural capital, increases the flow of ecosystem services and increases enterprise productivity and profitability. This project will apply natural capital accounting to integrate the flow of services associated with agroforestry assets into the enterprise accounts, by integrating the ecological and financial balance sheets for agroforestry systems targeting commercial and environmental returns. We will establish best-practice demonstration plantings in partnership with innovative enterprises and their advisors to build knowledge, awareness and capability around enterprise-scale agroforestry and natural capital accounting. This will build confidence within the agricultural sector around the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes for both ecological and financial returns. This project aligns well with current research in Theme 1 of the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value and with future planned research in a new Training Centre bid. Funded by: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Grant-NLP2 Smart Farms Partnerships; CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation; University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $65,000; This project is Stage 1. Feasibility of a two part project on developing more accurate and reliable models that can provide estimates of hardwood log outputs alignment to primary product outcomes, from both private and publically owned native forest and plantation hardwood estates, by region and location. This stage shall collect, collate and compile available existing data and information on the Tasmanian estates. Stage 2. Modelling and Validation, will depend on the industry participant's response to the outcomes of Stage 1 and would aim to develop a base state-wide modelling system that can be employed over repeat cycles. Stage 2 presently has no request for funding, but it is recommended a further $500,000 is retained in the NIFPI account to fund this stage, which will immediately follow the Feasibility Study. Funded by: FWPA - National Institute for Forest Products Innovation - Grant-Research ($65,000); University of Tasmania ($20,000).

Project Total: $150,000; The Forest Practices Code has environmental provisions that extend across flora, fauna and soil and water. The socio-economic effectiveness of many of the provisions within the code has rarely been tested. The aim of this project is to conduct rigorous socio-economic effectiveness testing of existing environmental provisions of the code. Funded by: Forest Practices Authority ($150,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $4,861,114; Funded by: Australian Research Council - Grant-Industrial Transformation Training Centres ($3,647,239); Forestry Tasmania ($400,000); Greening Australia (TAS) Ltd ($250,000); Forest & Wood Products Australia Limited ($250,000); Forico Pty Ltd ($250,000); Sustainable Forest Management Pty Ltd ($46,875); JM Roberts Charitable Trust ($17,000); University of Tasmania.